Mark Scheme (Results)

January 2024

Pearson Edexcel International Advanced

Level In Physics (WPH16)
Paper 01: Practical Skills in Physics II
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January 2024
Question Paper Log Number P75600A
Publications Code WPH16_01_2401_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2024
General Marking Guidance

• All candidates must receive the same

treatment. Examiners must mark the first candidate in
exactly the same way as they mark the last.
• Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates
must be rewarded for what they have shown they can do
rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not
according to their perception of where the grade
boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark
scheme should be used appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be
awarded. Examiners should always award full marks if
deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark
scheme. Examiners should also be prepared to award zero
marks if the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit
according to the mark scheme.
• Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will
provide the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
• When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of
the mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team
leader must be consulted.
• Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate
has replaced it with an alternative response.
Mark Scheme Notes

Underlying Principle
The mark scheme will clearly indicate the concept that is being rewarded, backed up by examples. It is
not a set of model answers.
For example:
(iii) Horizontal force of hinge on table top

66.3 (N) or 66 (N) and correct indication of direction [no ue] (1) 1
[Some examples of direction: acting from right (to left) / to the left / West /
opposite direction to horizontal. May show direction by arrow. Do not accept a
minus sign in front of number as direction.]
This has a clear statement of the principle for awarding the mark, supported by some examples
illustrating acceptable boundaries.

1. Mark scheme format

1.1 You will not see ‘wtte’ (words to that effect). Alternative correct wording should be credited in
every answer unless the ms has specified specific words that must be present. Such words
will be indicated by underlining e.g. ‘resonance’
1.2 Bold lower case will be used for emphasis.
1.3 Round brackets ( ) indicate words that are not essential e.g. “(hence) distance is increased”.
1.4 Square brackets [ ] indicate advice to examiners or examples e.g. [Do not accept gravity] [ecf].

2. Unit error penalties

2.1 A separate mark is not usually given for a unit but a missing or incorrect unit will normally
mean that the final calculation mark will not be awarded.
2.2 Incorrect use of case e.g. ‘Watt’ or ‘w’ will not be penalised.
2.3 There will be no unit penalty applied in ‘show that’ questions or in any other question where
the units to be used have been given, for example in a spreadsheet.
2.4 The same missing or incorrect unit will not be penalised more than once within one question
(one clip in ePen).
2.5 Occasionally, it may be decided not to penalise a missing or incorrect unit e.g. the candidate
may be calculating the gradient of a graph, resulting in a unit that is not one that should be
known and is complex.
2.6 The mark scheme will indicate if no unit error penalty is to be applied by means of [no ue].

3. Significant figures
3.1 Use of an inappropriate number of significant figures in the theory papers will normally only
be penalised in ‘show that’ questions where use of too few significant figures has resulted in
the candidate not demonstrating the validity of the given answer.
3.2 The use of g = 10 m s−2 or 10 N kg−1 instead of 9.81 m s−2 or 9.81 N kg−1 will be penalised by
one mark (but not more than once per clip). Accept 9.8 m s −2 or 9.8 N kg−1
3.3 In questions assessing practical skills, a specific number of significant figures will be required
e.g. determining a constant from the gradient of a graph or in uncertainty calculations. The MS
will clearly identify the number of significant figures required.
4. Calculations
4.1 Bald (i.e. no working shown) correct answers score full marks unless in a ‘show that’ question.
4.2 If a ‘show that’ question is worth 2 marks then both marks will be available for a reverse
working; if it is worth 3 marks then only 2 will be available.
4.3 use of the formula means that the candidate demonstrates substitution of physically correct
values, although there may be conversion errors e.g. power of 10 error.
4.4 recall of the correct formula will be awarded when the formula is seen or implied by
substitution.
4.5 The mark scheme will show a correctly worked answer for illustration only.

Example of mark scheme for a calculation:

‘Show that’ calculation of weight

Use of L × W × H (1)
Substitution into density equation with a volume and density (1)
Correct answer [49.4 (N)] to at least 3 sig fig. [No ue] (1) 3

[If 5040 g rounded to 5000 g or 5 kg, do not give 3rd mark; if conversion to kg is omitted
and then answer fudged, do not give 3rd mark]
[Bald answer scores 0, reverse calculation 2/3]

Example of calculation
80 cm × 50 cm × 1.8 cm = 7200 cm3
7200 cm3 × 0.70 g cm-3 = 5040 g
5040 × 10-3 kg × 9.81 N/kg= 49.4 N

5. Graphs
5.1 A mark given for axes requires both axes to be labelled with quantities and units, and drawn
the correct way round.
5.2 Sometimes a separate mark will be given for units or for each axis if the units are complex.
This will be indicated on the mark scheme.
5.3 A mark given for choosing a scale requires that the chosen scale allows all points to be
plotted, spreads plotted points over more than half of each axis and is not an awkward scale
e.g. multiples of 3, 4, 7 etc.
5.4 Points should be plotted to within 1 mm.
• Check the two points furthest from the best line. If both are OK award the mark.
• If either is 2 mm out do not award mark.
• If both are 1 mm out do not award mark.
• If either is 1 mm out then check another two and award mark if both of these are OK,
otherwise no mark.
5.5 For a line mark there must be a thin continuous line which is the best-fit line for the
candidate’s results.
 Question
Answer Mark
Number

1(a) Use a (timing) marker (at the centre of the oscillation) (1)
Allow the oscillations to settle before timing (1)
Measure multiple oscillations and divide by the number of oscillations
Or Repeat the measurement (of T) and calculate a mean (1) 3

1(b)(i) f0 in range 1.50 Hz to 1.54 Hz 3 s.f. only (1) 1

1(b)(ii) 1 (1)
Use of 𝑇 = 𝑓0

𝑚
Use of 𝑇 = 2π√ (1)
𝑘

Correct mass given to 2 or 3 s.f. with unit e.c.f. 1(b)(i) (1) 3

Example of calculation
1
T = 1.52 Hz = 0.658 s

𝑘𝑇 2 30Nm−1 × (0.658s)2
𝑚= = = 0.329 kg
4π2 4π2

1(b)(iii) There are not enough readings around the maximum value
Or There are not enough readings between 1.4 Hz and 1.6 Hz (1)

Therefore the best fit line is uncertain

Or The position of the peak (of the graph) is uncertain (1) 2

1(c) Data loggers have a high sampling rate (1)

So there is less uncertainty in the measurement of amplitude (at each (1) 2
frequency)

Total for question 1 11

 Question
Answer Mark
Number

2(a) EITHER
The hot plate or glass beaker will be hot
Or the hot plate or glass beaker will cause burns (if touched)
Or hot water may spill onto student (1)

Use tongs or insulated gloves (to move the beaker) (1)

OR
The hot plate will be hot
Or the hot plate will cause burns (if touched) (1)

So turn off the hot plate (when water has boiled) (1)

OR
Thermometer may break (when moving beaker) (1)
So remove the thermometer (before moving the beaker) (1) 2

2(b) 1. Use a stopwatch (to measure time) (1)

2. Record the initial temperature and start the stopwatch (simultaneously) (1)

3. Stir the water (before measuring the temperature) (1)

4. Record the temperature at (regular) time intervals

Or Record the time at (regular) temperature intervals (1)

5. Record many temperature readings (as the water cools)

Or Keep recording until temperature similar to temperature of the
surroundings (1)

6. Plot a graph of ln against t to check it is a straight line

Or plot a graph of ln against t to check the gradient is constant (1) 6

Total for question 2 8

 Question
Answer Mark
Number

3(a) Record position of top of lower magnet and bottom of upper magnet and
subtract to give x (1)

Any TWO from:

Ensure the ruler is close to the bar magnets (1)

Read perpendicular to the scale

Or measure the position of the bar magnets using a set square (1)

Clamp the (30 cm) ruler in position and use a set square to ensure the (30 cm)
ruler is vertical (1) 3

3(b) EITHER
log F = log k + p log x (1)
Compares with y = c + mx where p is the gradient (which is constant) (1)

MP2 dependent on MP1

OR
log F = p log x + log k (1)
Compares with y = mx + c where p is the gradient (which is constant) (1) 2

MP2 dependent on MP1

3(c)(i) Values of log x correct and consistent to 2 d.p. Accept consistent to 3 d.p. (1)
Values of log F correct and consistent to 2 d.p. Accept consistent to 3 d.p. (1)
Axes labelled: y as log (F / mN) and x as log (x / mm) (1)
Sensible scales chosen (1)
log values plotted accurately (1)
Best fit line drawn (1) 6

Accept ln values
x / mm F / mN log (x / mm) log (F / mN)

102 11.22 2.01 1.05

117 7.56 2.07 0.88

128 5.25 2.11 0.72

145 3.43 2.16 0.54

166 2.09 2.22 0.32

197 1.18 2.29 0.07

3(c)(ii) Calculation of gradient using large triangle shown (1)
Value of gradient in range (−)3.40 to (−)3.80 (1)
Value of calculated gradient given to 2 or 3 s.f., negative, no unit (1) 3

Example of calculation
1 − 0.2 0.8
gradient = = = −3.6
2.03 − 2.255 −0.225

3(c)(iii) States form of inverse square relationship as F  x−2 (1)

States gradient (p of log F against log x for inverse square law) should be −2
and states calculated gradient p
Or
States relationship from graph F  x p with p as calculated gradient (1)

States valid conclusion (1) 3

MP3 dependent on MP1 and MP2

Total for question 3 17

 Question
Answer Mark
Number

4(a)(i) EITHER
Repeat at different orientations and calculate a mean (1)
To reduce (the effect of) random errors (1)

MP2 dependent on MP1

OR

Check and correct for zero error on the calipers (1)

To eliminate systematic error (1) 2

MP2 dependent on MP1

4(a)(ii) Calculation of %U shown using half resolution (1)

States instrument based on justification using calculation of %U from
corresponding resolution (1) 2

Example of calculation
0.005mm
%U = 5mm
× 100 = 0.1%
So use a micrometer screw gauge as the %U is small
4(b) EITHER
Uses %U in u and v Accept fractional uncertainty = 𝑢 and
∆𝑢 ∆𝑣 (1)
𝑣
(1)
Calculation of %U in (u + v) Accept fractional uncertainty
(1)
Addition of all %U Accept fractional uncertainty
(1)
U = 0.15 (cm) 2 s.f. only

Example of calculation
0.1cm
%U in u = 29.6cm × 100 = 0.34%
0.1cm
%U in v = 19.2cm × 100 = 0.52%
(0.1 + 0.1)cm 0.2cm
%U in u + v = (29.6 + 19.2)cm × 100 = 48.8cm × 100 = 0.41%

%U in f = 0.34% + 0.52% + 0.41% = 1.3%

U in f = 11.6 × 1.3% = 0.15 (cm)

OR

Uses uncertainties to calculate maximum or minimum f

(1)
Correct calculation of maximum or minimum f
(1)
Calculation of half range shown
(1)
U = 0.15 (cm) 2 s.f. only
(1) 4

Example of calculation
(29.6 + 0.1)cm × (19.2 + 0.1)cm (29.7 × 19.3)cm2 573.2cm2
maximum f = (29.6 − 0.1)cm + (19.2 − 1)cm
= (29.5 + 19.1)cm
= 48.6cm
= 11.8
(cm)
(29.6 − 0.1)cm × (19.2 − 0.1)cm (29.5 × 19.1)cm2 563.5cm2
minimum f = (29.6 + 0.1)cm + (19.2 + 0.1)cm = (29.7 + 19.3)cm
= 49cm
= 11.5
(cm)
(11.8 − 11.5)cm
U in f = = 0.15 (cm)
2

4(c)(i) 𝑑2 (1)
Uses n = 1 + 8𝑡𝑓

n = 1.63 3 s.f. only

(1) 2

Example of calculation
(5.02cm)2 25.2cm2
n = 1 + 8 × 0.428cm × 11.6cm = 1 + 39.7cm2 = 1.63
4(c)(ii) EITHER
Uses 2 × %U in d Accept 2 
∆𝑑 (1)
𝑑
(1)
%U in n = 1% Accept 1.1%

Allow use of value from (b)

Example of calculation
𝑑2 0.02cm 0.01mm 0.2cm
%U in 8𝑡𝑓 = (2 × 5.02cm + 4.28mm + 11.6cm
)  100

= 0.797% + 0.234% + 1.72% = 2.8%

(0.63×0.028)
%U in n= 1.63
× 100 = 1.1%

OR

Correct calculation of maximum or minimum n (1)

%U in n = 0.9% Accept 0.92% (1) 2

Example of calculation
(5.04cm)2
Maximum n = 1 + = 1.65
8 × 0.427cm × 11.4cm
(5.00cm)2
Minimum n = 1 + 8 × 0.429cm × 11.8cm = 1.62
(1.65−1.62)
%U = 2×1.63
× 100 = 0.92%

4(c)(iii) EITHER
Correct value of relevant limit (e.c.f. (c)(i), (c)(ii)) (1)
Conclusion based on comparison of relevant limit to n = 1.52 (1)
MP2 dependent MP1

Example of calculation
lower limit of n = 1.63 × (1 − 0.01) = 1.61
As the lower limit is greater than 1.52 the lens could not be made of crown
glass

OR

Correct calculation of %D shown (e.c.f. (c)(i), (c)(ii)) (1)

Conclusion based on comparison of %D and %U (1) 2
MP2 dependent MP1
 Example of calculation
1.63 − 1.52
%D = 1.52
× 100 = 7.2%
As % D is greater than the %U then lens could not be made of crown glass

Total for question 4 14

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